Elise Irwin, PhD
Biologist - Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Headquarters
Research Interests
Dr. Irwin is the leader of a broad research program in fisheries ecology with emphasis on reduction of uncertainty regarding how anthropomorphic changes in riverine and other aquatic environments affect biological processes of aquatic species. Thematically her research has primarily investigated how management, landscape patterns and disturbance regimes affect biological processes in aquatic systems, with two main areas of focus: 1) effects of spatial and temporal arrangement of riverine habitat on population parameters of fishes and, 2) definition and reduction of uncertainty regarding functional relations between hydrologic and chemical characteristics of riverine environments and fish distribution, abundance and/or growth of fish and invertebrates.
Teaching Interests
Dr. Irwin teaches a course on management of river systems at Auburn University. The course is inter-disciplinary and covers topics related to managing rivers for multiple uses. Dr. Irwin also teaches courses on Structured Decision Making and Adaptive Management at the National Conservation Training Center.
Professional Experience
Biologist, Cooperative Research Units Program Headquarters, 2021-
Assistant Unit Leader, Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 1995-2021
Education and Certifications
Ph D North Carolina State University 1994
MS Tennessee Technological University 1989
BS Delaware State College 1987
Science and Products
At-a-Glance—Summary of the 2023 U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Research Units Program Year-in-Review
Pollinator conservation and climate science at the U.S. Geological Survey
The bee lab
Decision science as a framework for combining geomorphological and ecological modeling for the management of coastal systems
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program—2022 year in review
Identifying monitoring information needs that support the management of fish in large rivers
Toward improved prediction of streamflow effects on freshwater fishes
Estimating nitrogen removal services of eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in Mobile Bay, Alabama
Decision analysis of restoration actions for faunal conservation and other stakeholder values: Dauphin Island, Alabama
Quantifying harvestable fish and crustacean production and associated economic values provided by oyster reefs
Adaptive management of flows from R.L. Harris Dam (Tallapoosa River, Alabama)—Stakeholder process and use of biological monitoring data for decision making
Can data from disparate long-term fish monitoring programs be used to increase our understanding of regional and continental trends in large river assemblages?
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Alabama Barrier Island Restoration Assessment
Protecting Cultural Resources in the Face of Climate Change
Data from: Decision science for management of coastal ecosystems
Science and Products
At-a-Glance—Summary of the 2023 U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Research Units Program Year-in-Review
Pollinator conservation and climate science at the U.S. Geological Survey
The bee lab
Decision science as a framework for combining geomorphological and ecological modeling for the management of coastal systems
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program—2022 year in review
Identifying monitoring information needs that support the management of fish in large rivers
Toward improved prediction of streamflow effects on freshwater fishes
Estimating nitrogen removal services of eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in Mobile Bay, Alabama
Decision analysis of restoration actions for faunal conservation and other stakeholder values: Dauphin Island, Alabama
Quantifying harvestable fish and crustacean production and associated economic values provided by oyster reefs
Adaptive management of flows from R.L. Harris Dam (Tallapoosa River, Alabama)—Stakeholder process and use of biological monitoring data for decision making
Can data from disparate long-term fish monitoring programs be used to increase our understanding of regional and continental trends in large river assemblages?
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.